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A TV boss has broken his silence on Ariana Grande quitting a hit drama show – after revealing her plan to step back from public life.

Ariana was originally annouced to be on series 13 of American Horror Story but she later exited the project to prioritise her Eternal Sunshine tour.

This comes at the same time she revealed she would be stepping back from fame at the end of her tour.

The AHS creator, Ryan Murphy, has now discussed her exit and told The Hollywood Reporter: “I love Ariana Grande. We’re great friends.

“I had an idea and I came to her and she, very immediately, said, ‘I’m not sure because I think I’m going on tour.

“I don’t think the tour had been announced, and she had obviously just finished the Wicked movie.”

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Ryan also revealed that he welcomed the star to appear in another season which she gladly accepted.

He added: “You have to be respectful. Who is busier than Ariana Grande? No one. She had told me at the time, ‘I have this album that’s dropping.’ It was really, truly a scheduling conflict.”

Ryan also revealed that Ariana is a big fan of horror and did Scream Queens for him and explained that he would always want to work with her.

He said: “I love her, and I support her. It was a very big swing, but I might bring that back for another season, per Ariana’s availability. I think the world of her.”

Last week, a rep for Ariana shocked fans by releasing a statement confirming she was stepping back from public life.

The announcement followed her pulling out of the starring role in a West End adaptation of Sunday In The Park With George, alongside her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey.

A representative had told People Magazine: “Ariana will be taking a step back from visibility after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour.”

However, Ariana has one last surprise in store for fans as she prepares to kick off her ten-date residency at the O2 Arena next weekend.

We were told the Thank U Next singer will film the London shows for a concert special, to be released at a later date.

It’s due to spark a bidding war with streaming giants battling it out for the rights.

Ariana’s last album, Eternal Sunshine, was born out of heartbreak and written as her marriage to American estate agent Dalton Gomez broke down.

Following the split from Wicked co-star Ethan in June after three years, Ariana has headed back to familiar ground and is dating her ex, dancer Ricky Alvarez.

TOMMY Fury is not impressed with Kim Kardashian’s parenting style.

The boxer – who shares two children with Molly-Mae Hague – expressed his thoughts about Kim’s need for “10 nannies”, after The Sun exclusively revealed that the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star uses a “24 hour rotation system” to monitor her four kids.

On his What The Fury podcast with his dad John, Tommy read out “10 nannies and mannies raising Kim Kardashian’s kids.”

“If you can’t look after these kids yourself, don’t have them,” John declared, and while Tommy said they “don’t know the full story, he went on to say: “I don’t understand people who just dump the kids with nannies and mannies all day…”

Branding it “ridiculous”, John added: “In my family, there was a lot of us and my mother looked after us all by herself.”

John explained that his mother couldn’t afford the extra help when he was young,

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Tommy then admitted he and Molly-Mae have a nanny to help with children Bambi, three, and Midas who was born in June.

He said: “I’m all for having some help on board and help you out – me and Molly, we have help.

“But we’re with Bambi every day, all day; it’s only if I’ve got to go on a call or Molly’s on a call or we’ve got to shoot out.

“The baby’s looked after all the time.”

This prompted fans to brand Tommy a “hypocrite” with many taking issue at the two men judging Kim as a mother.

“Leave the woman alone. I can do with 15 nannies as a busy working mother. Not easy. We need and can do with the help . Men judging a hard working business woman,” one scolded.

Another pointed out the irony, writing: “A man with a full time nanny judging a woman with a full time nanny!”

Another penned: “Men. Mansplaining what they have no clue about.”

While someone else wrote: “[Tommy and Molly] have someone on call 24/7 so his argument is completely invalid. Honestly, these people are deluded!”

Last year, The Sun revealed Kim, 44, has a squad of dedicated men and women who help raise the children she shares with ex husband Kanye West – North, Saint, Chicago and Psalm – with Kim heading up the military-style operation.

Insiders revealed that each nanny is assigned a brief on her child’s needs and Kim is staffed seven days a week – night and day.

There’s a strict regime in place for her little ones, so they never go without support while she juggles her billion-dollar empire.

A night nanny arranges everything for the mornings such as school supplies and football kits, and is on call in case anyone wakes up in the night.

Then the other nannies start at 6am on the dot and work 12-hour shifts.

MIAMI — Sandy Alcantara struck out eight in seven innings, becoming the Miami Marlins’ career leader in innings pitched, and Xavier Edwards had three RBIs in a 7-0 victory over the Angels on Saturday.

Alcantara (13-6) broke the record in the third, working his 1,226th inning and passing Ricky Nolasco, who pitched 1,225⅔ innings for the Marlins (59-59) from 2006-13. He gave up three hits and walked one. Reliever Pete Fairbanks struck out all three batters in the ninth to end the game.

Edwards hit an RBI double as Miami took a 2-0 lead in the third, followed by Otto Lopez’s two-run single to double the Marlins’ lead. Jakob Marsee tripled to lead off the fifth, and Edwards singled to send him home.

Griffin Conine singled and Heriberto Hernández doubled in the fifth to make it 7-0.

Angels starter Walbert Ureña (7-8) pitched the first 2⅓ innings. He gave up four hits and four earned runs. He walked three and struck out two. Brett Kerry pitched the final 5⅔ innings, striking out seven and walking one. He gave up six hits.

Up next: RHP Grayson Rodriguez (3-4, 7.24 ERA) will start on the mound for the Angels (45-72) in the series finale on Sunday. RHP Ryan Gusto (0-3, 4.80) will start for the Marlins.

Saimoni Vunilagi was hospitalised with symptoms of heatstroke after rugby team training on Monday, but died on Friday.

A Fijian rugby player with a Japanese professional team has died after being taken to hospital with “symptoms consistent with severe heatstroke”, Saimoni Vunilagi’s club said on Saturday.

Second-division side Kyushu KV said 26-year-old Vunilagi was taken to hospital in the southern city of Fukuoka after a team practice on Monday, and died on Friday morning.

Temperatures reached a high of 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) in Fukuoka on Monday.

Vunilagi, a back row forward who stood 196cm (6ft5in) and weighed 117kg (258lb), attended university in Japan and began his professional career in 2023.

“The players, staff, and all team associates are devastated by this sudden news,” the club said in a statement.

“Although Saimoni had only recently joined Kyushu KV, his generous spirit and powerful style of play had raised high hopes for his contributions in the upcoming season.

“We humbly pray for the repose of his soul and extend our heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family.”

Japan sweltered through its hottest summer on record last year, and parts of the country have hit 40C (104F) in recent weeks.

Close to 18,600 people were taken to hospital for heatstroke between July 20 and 26, with 45 of them pronounced dead on arrival, according to the fire and disaster management agency.

Japan experiences about 1,300 heat-related deaths annually and is aiming to halve that number by 2030.

Three lions at a Tokyo zoo died from suspected heatstroke, and others are under treatment, a spokeswoman said this week.

Scientists say human-induced climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme heat events in Japan and elsewhere.

The country’s highest recorded temperature of 41.8C (107F) was registered on August 5, 2025, in Isesaki, north of Tokyo.

Authorities have adjusted the timing of several cultural and sporting events in recent years because of the heat, including the World Cosplay Summit in Nagoya, which held its final summer edition last weekend.

MIAMI — Mike Trout and Nolan Schanuel hit home runs for the Angels in a 4-3 win over the Marlins on Friday, sending Miami to its fourth consecutive loss.

Trout homered in the first inning to open the scoring. Trout, who turned 35 on Friday, hit a home run on his birthday for the sixth time in his 16 MLB seasons.

Josh Lowe scored when Trout reached on a fielder error by Josh Ekness and Schanuel hit a two-run shot to center field, his second home run in as many games, in the seventh.

Shaun Anderson (2-0) recorded the final out of the sixth and earned the win. He walked one and gave up one hit.

Owen Caissie walked to lead off the fourth, Jakub Marsee singled and Esteury Ruiz walked before Kyle Stowers drew a bases-loaded walk to drive in Caissie.

Stowers added an RBI single in the sixth.

In the ninth inning, with two outs, Leo Jiménez hit an RBI single to center field to score Agustín Ramírez and make it 4-3. Javier Sanoja hit the ball off the glove of third baseman Denzer Guzman and left fielder Jose Siri’s throw home beat Jiménez to end the game. Replay review confirmed the out.

José Fermin pitched the ninth and earned his first career save. He allowed one run and three hits.

Ekness (0-1) pitched 1⅔ innings and allowed three runs.

Up next: RHP Sandy Alcantara (12-6, 3.68 ERA) starts for the Marlins on Saturday against the Angels’ RHP Walbert Urena (7-7, 2.54).

A SINGER once branded as the ‘new Justin Bieber’ looked unrecognisable while recreating a hit dance – 13 years on.

The now 30-year-old star, who hails from Texas, rose to fame during the 2010s.

Austin Mahone was touted as the next Justin Bieber, with both having been discovered on YouTube.

In 2013, he entered the prestigious Billboard Top 100 with his single What About Love.

And now 13 years on, Austin recreated the song’s signature dance in a new video.

The dance saw Austin show off impressive footwork, while rolling back his shoulders.

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One person commented: “This is who they tried to pit against Justin Bieber.”

Another added: “This song went triple platinum in my house.”

While a third shared: “He still has the red microphone after all these years.”

In a 2013 interview with extratv, Austin addressed being compared to Justin Bieber.

He said: “It’s very flattering, he’s, you know, very successful and I hope to be as successful as him someday.

“I’d just love people to give me a chance and see me as my own artist, as Austin. That’s all I ask.”

His early successes include singles Say Somethin’ and Say You’re Just A Friend, the latter featuring Flo Rida.

In recent years, Austin has continued to release music across different genres.

However, he has yet to reach the heights of Canadian superstar Justin, now aged 32.

He signed with Pitbull’s Mr. 305 Inc in 2015 and released single Dirty Work earlier in that year.

With the song having entered Japan‘s Billboard Top 100, his debut studio album was released exclusively in the country.

His second album, A Lone Star Story – released in 2023 – marked a foray into country music.

In Austin’s personal life, his previous romances include fellow singers Camila Cabello and Becky G.

Temperatures on Saturday will begin to climb above average again, reaching the mid- to high 20s Celsius in most of England and Wales.

It will be cooler in Scotland and Northern Ireland at 17 to 21C with more cloud, a bit of rain and a blustery wind.

By Sunday and into next week temperatures will rise even further with many parts of the UK exceeding their heatwave threshold temperature of 25 to 28C, depending on location.

With this hotter weather expected to last well into the week, many locations will have the three consecutive days needed to declare the fifth widespread heatwave of the year.

It has already been a remarkable summer in the United Kingdom with multiple records broken.

July has been the sunniest month on record for the UK, as well as the driest July on record for England and Wales.

There have so far been 33 days this year when temperatures have exceeded 30C in the UK. Next week, it is likely the record of 34 days, set in 1995, will be broken.

For the first time ever, a temperature of 35C has also been recorded somewhere in the UK on the three consecutive months of May, June and July.

It is possible August will join that list by the end of next week as some forecast models suggest 35C in central and south-east England.

Hi, and welcome to another edition of Dodgers Dugout. My name is Houston Mitchell. It’s too hot. I’m convinced that the Earth has been torn from its orbit and is hurtling toward the sun.

Trade deadline review

The Dodgers made some acquisitions at the deadline, the big one being Tarik Skubal. Let’s take a look:

Acquired Skubal from the Tigers for minor leaguers Zyhir Hope, River Ryan and Brady Smith

Andrew Friedman recently told reporters, “There just aren’t that many star-level players in the game. Any time one is available, we’re always going to participate in those conversations.”

Participate he did, as the Dodgers got the top player available. Skubal won the last two AL Cy Young Awards when he went 18-4 with a 2.39 ERA in 2024 and 13-6 with a 2.21 ERA last season, leading the league in ERA both seasons. He also led in strikeouts in 2024 with 228. Last season he struck out 241. You can see all of his stats here.

Skubal was taken by Detroit out of Seattle University in the ninth round of the 2018 draft. He reached the majors in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, going 1-4 with a 5.63 ERA in eight starts. He has gotten better each season since until this season, where he is 7-6 with an ERA of “only” 2.81.

Skubal was born in Hayward, Calif., on Nov. 20, 1996. He was a freshman All-American for Seattle in 2015, then missed most of the 2016 and all of the 2017 season after having Tommy John surgery. He pitched again in 2018 and was drafted by Detroit.

After winning his second Cy Young last season, he set the arbitration record by getting $32 million for 2026 (the Tigers had countered with $19 million). On May 4 this season, he had surgery to remove loose bodies in his pitching elbow (the same surgery Edwin Díaz had). He came back on June 13 and since then he has gone 4-4 with a 2.88 ERA in 59.1 innings, giving up 43 hits and walking 10 while striking out 77. The Dodgers will be on the hook for about $10 million of his salary this season.

Was this a good trade? Well, for now, yes, as the Dodgers are a better team with Skubal than without him. Long term, it depends on a lot of things. Will he be a key factor if they win the title again? He’s a free agent after this season, will the Dodgers re-sign him? Will the three prospects the Dodgers gave up turn out to be good to great major leaguers?

In 1987, Detroit was battling for the AL East and pulled off a deadline deal, acquiring Doyle Alexander from the Atlanta Braves. Alexander went 9-0 with a 1.53 ERA for the Tigers, who won the division thanks in large part to that. So, a great trade, right?

Well, Alexander retired two years later, and the prospect the Tigers sent to the Braves turned out to be pretty good: John Smoltz.

Hope, 21, is an outfielder who has hit at every level of the minor leagues. He is hitting .291/.368/.525 at double-A this season. He is considered by all sources to be one of the top 100 prospects in baseball, ranked 63rd by Baseball America, 27th by MLB and 18th by Baseball Prospectus.

Ryan, who turns 28 this month, pitched for the Dodgers in 2024, with a 1.33 ERA in four starts. He has been hampered by injuries ever since. He had arm surgery in August 2024 that sidelined him for the 2025 season. He made eight starts for triple-A Oklahoma City this season, with a 4.46 ERA. He has great stuff, but his age and injury history indicates he might never get a real chance to show it.

Smith, 21, was drafted in the third round in 2023. He missed the 2024 season because of injuries. He made only nine starts with a 6.00 ERA last season and in 21 starts in Class A ball this season, he was 0-7 with a 4.36 ERA, striking out 113 in 74.1 innings.

Acquired Ben Rortvedt from the New York Mets for Chayce McDermott

Rortvedt is a familiar name to Dodgers fans, as he filled in admirably when needed for Will Smith last season and took the backup catcher job from Dalton Rushing. He hit only .224/.309/.327, but he seemed to always get key hits, or laid down a bunt when needed. And the pitching staff loved him. It was as if he had been a Dodgers catcher for years. Look at the team ERA by catcher last season:

Rortvedt, 2.89 (140.1 innings)
Rushing, 3.87 (325.1)
Smith, 4.00 (865.1)
Chuckie Robinson, 5.14 (seven)
Austin Barnes, 5.16 (103)

Doesn’t it seem like Barnes has been off the team for a few seasons already?

McDermott has a career 12.00 ERA in 15 major league innings.

Acquired Hunter Feduccia and Jacob Kmatz from the Tampa Bay Rays for Jack Suwinski and $250,000 in international bonus pool money

The Dodgers acquired another old friend by getting Feduccia, who is also a catcher. He played in eight games for the Dodgers in 2024 and 2025 before he was traded to Tampa Bay for Rortvedt and pitcher Paul Gervase. Feduccia is one of those Dodger prospects who never panned out, as he is hitting .207/.297/.290 in 104 major league games. But, he knows the Dodger pitching staff and the Dodgers are better with Rortvedt/Feduccia than with Robinson/Eliezer Alfonzo.

The reason the Dodgers acquired two catchers is because of some bad news. Rushing has a torn UCL in his right elbow and more than likely won’t be able to play catcher again this season, though he may be able to serve as a right-handed pinch-hitter. With Rushing out, and Will Smith still sidelined by his neck injury, the Dodgers turned toward defense. Neither Rortvedt nor Feduccia have proven to be starting catchers, but they have been solid backups. The question is, who will get the most playing time the rest of the way? They both bat left-handed.

Acquired pitcher Kris Bubic from the Kansas City Royals for Carlos Duran

This reminds me of the trade for Danny Duffy at the 2021 deadline. Duffy was a good pitcher who was injured, but the Dodgers hoped he would return in time to help down the stretch during the 2021 season. He didn’t return. They signed him in the offseason hoping he would return from injury to help during the season. He didn’t return. He then retired.

Bubic was on the 60-day IL for the Royals, and is on that IL for the Dodgers. He was an All-Star last season for the Royals, finishing the season 8-7 with a 2.55 ERA in 20 starts (116 innings). He was 3-2 with a 4.11 ERA in nine starts this season before going on the IL because of shoulder soreness. The Dodgers hope he can return before the end of the month.

But let’s not hold our breath awaiting that, OK?

Duran, 25, had a 3.38 ERA in 42.2 innings at triple-A Oklahoma City.

Acquired reliever Seth Halvorsen from the Colorado Rockies for Nick Frasso and Landyn Vidourek

This trade happened on July 20, but we will include it. Halvorsen was, wait for it, on the 15-day IL for the Rockies because of shoulder inflammation. He is currently off the IL and has pitched 5.1 scoreless innings at Oklahoma City. He reaches 100 on the radar gun and has a 4.31 career ERA in 71 innings in the majors.

Frasso, 27, was selected in the fourth round by Toronto in the 2020 draft, was sent to the Dodgers for Mitch White in 2022 and never reached the majors with L.A. He had shoulder surgery before the 2024 season and sat out the season.

Vidourek, 22, an outfielder, was chosen by the Dodgers in the third round of the 2025 draft. He has power but strikes out a lot, fanning 141 times in 317 at-bats in the minors, where he is hitting .205/.357/.369.

So, there you have it. Your new Dodgers. The Dodgers are a better team today than they were before the deadline. It guarantees nothing though. They got Yu Darvish and Max Scherzer in previous years and did not win the title.

The Dodgers rotation, if everyone is healthy:

Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Skubal
Shohei Ohtani
Blake Snell
Tyler Glasnow

Next in line: Justin Wrobleski, Roki Sasaki, Eric Lauer, Emmet Sheehan.

Here’s what the other NL contenders did. I won’t comment, because this newsletter is long enough already and there’s still another item after this one, but if you click on each player’s name, you will be taken to their stat page at baseball-reference.com.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Acquired Lars Nootbaar from the St. Louis Cardinals for Daniel Eagen, Sandro Santana and a player to be named later.

Atlanta Braves

Acquired Tyler Uberstine from the Boston Red Sox for Eli White.
Acquired Duncan Davitt from the Chicago White Sox for Joey Bart.
Acquired Brent Suter from the Angels for Nacho Alvarez Jr.
Acquired Tyler Mahle from the San Francisco Giants for Anthony Molina.
Acquired Lane Thomas and Bailey Falter from the Kansas City Royals for Carter Holton and Lucas Braun.

Chicago Cubs

Acquired Kevin Gausman from the the Toronto Blue Jays for Brett Bateman and Ty Southisene.
Acquired Clay Holmes and Tyrone Taylor from the New York Mets for Jefferson Rojas.
Acquired Ryan Zeferjahn from the Angels for Moises Ballesteros and Mason McGwire.
Acquired Braxton Garrett from the Miami Marlins for Jonathon Long and Jace Beck.
Acquired Aaron Civale and cash from the Athletics for Aiden Moffett.
Acquired David Peterson from the New York Mets for Cole Mathis.

Miami Marlins

Acquired Brandan Bidois, Hyun Seung Lee, and Brian Sanchez from the Pittsburgh Pirates for Lake Bachar.
Acquired Victor Vodnik from the Colorado Rockies for Connor Norby and Aiden May.
Acquired Jonathon Long and Jace Beck from the Chicago Cubs for Braxton Garrett.
Acquired Brayden Taylor, Adrian Santana and Jacob Kisting from the Tampa Bay Rays for Liam Hicks.

Milwaukee Brewers

Acquired Antonio Senzatela from the Colorado Rockies for Mark Manfredi and Juan Martinez.
Acquired Dustin May and JoJo Romero from the St. Louis Cardinals for Alexander Frias and Josiah Ragsdale.
Acquired Bo Naylor and Codi Heuer from the Cleveland Guardians for Blake Perkins and Craig Yoho.
Acquired Braden Shewmake from the Houston Astros for cash considerations.

Philadelphia Phillies

Acquired Luis Arraez and Caleb Kilian from the San Francisco Giants for Ramon Marquez and Marty Gair.
Acquired Colby Thomas from the Athletics for Seth Johnson.
Acquired Manuel Colon and cash considerations from the Kansas City Royals for Nolan Hoffman.
Acquired Brooks Raley from the New York Mets for Luke Gabrysh and John Spikerman.

San Diego Padres

Acquired Robbie Ray from Giants for Miguel Mendez and Joniel Hernandez.
Acquired Hunter Stratton from Pirates for Andrew Moore.
Acquired Casey Mize and Gage Workman from Tigers for Kash Mayfield and Jackson Wolf.

For full reports on all the trades across the majors, I suggest visiting mlbtraderumors.com.

What, me worry?

So, the Dodgers have lost six in a row and were swept in two consecutive series. Time to worry or panic?

To find the last time the Dodgers lost six in a row and were swept in consecutive series, you have to go all the way back to … July 2025. The Dodgers woke up on July 4 leading the NL West by nine games. They then proceeded to get swept twice:

lost to Houston, 18-1
lost to Houston, 6-4
lost to Houston, 5-1
lost to Milwaukee, 9-1
lost to Milwaukee, 3-1
lost to Milwaukee, 3-2

The then lost their first game against the Giants, 8-7. After that, they were in first place by only four games.

Then they won two in a row and lost three more in a row. They went 5-13 over one stretch that month and went 10-14 in July. They lost five in a row to start September. They ended up winning the division by three games, but did not get a first-round bye.

My memory fails me, what happened in the postseason last season?

If the Dodgers get a couple of major injuries and lose like 15 in a row, then we can begin to panic. But they are going to make the postseason, and anything can happen in the postseason. They could be swept in the first round, they could win it all again. It’s all part of the ride.

Up next

Friday: Dodgers (Roki Sasaki, 5-5, 4.64 ERA) at Arizona (Merrill Kelly, 8-9, 5.04 ERA), 6:40 p.m., SportsNet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020

Saturday: Dodgers (Yoshinobu Yamamoto, 11-7, 2.76 ERA) at Arizona (Brandon Pfaadt, 6-1, 3.66 ERA), 5:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020

Sunday: Dodgers (*Justin Wrobleski, 11-3, 3.31 ERA) at Arizona (*Eduardo Rodriguez, 10-4, 2.71 ERA), 1:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020

All times Pacific

*-left-handed

In case you missed it

Shohei Ohtani, Pete Crow-Armstrong put on a show as NL MVP talk heats up: ‘He’s a great player’

‘Dodgers do all the right things.’ Tarik Skubal dismisses the ‘ruining baseball’ critics

Two of Rob Reiner’s children pay tribute to their late parents with Dodgers ceremonial first pitches

Dodgers add catchers Ben Rortvedt and Hunter Feduccia, pitcher Kris Bubic at trade deadline

Dodgers Debate: The Dodgers will stop at nothing to win

Inside the aggressive push Andrew Friedman and Dodgers made to acquire Tarik Skubal

Shaikin: ‘L.A. is America’s team.’ But the Brewers should have been Tarik Skubal’s team

Plaschke: Tarik Skubal trade brings Dodgers hate, envy … and another championship

And finally

Vin Scully is interviewed by Roy Firestone. Watch and listen here.

Until next time …

Have a comment or something you’d like to see in a future Dodgers newsletter? Email me at houston.mitchell@latimes.com. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.

European equities keep reaching new highs.

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The pan-European STOXX Europe 600 climbed to another record on Wednesday, closing at around 657 points after touching a fresh intraday high and extending its winning streak to a third consecutive session.

The blue-chip EURO STOXX 50, which tracks the euro area’s largest listed companies, also set a new all-time high during the day. The broader benchmark has now gained about 10% since the start of 2026.

The rally is broad-based. Germany’s DAX broke above 26,100 for the first time. France’s CAC 40 climbed to a record 8,700, while Italy’s FTSE MIB reached an unprecedented 53,540.

Record highs everywhere

Yet the companies leading Europe’s bull market bear little resemblance to the household names that have long defined the continent’s equity story.

Luxury groups are nowhere to be seen. Neither are the pharmaceutical giants that traditionally anchor European portfolios. Even banks, despite a strong year, have largely been overtaken.

Instead, the biggest winners of 2026 are the companies building the infrastructure behind the artificial intelligence boom: manufacturers of semiconductor wafers, chip-testing equipment, advanced substrates and industrial technology.

Europe’s stock market is no longer being led by brands consumers recognise. It is increasingly being powered by the suppliers enabling the world’s AI capital-spending race.

Why European stocks keep setting records

Several forces have come together to fuel the rally.

The immediate catalyst was geopolitical.

Reports that Washington and Tehran are moving towards a new agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz pushed oil prices sharply lower, easing inflation fears and reducing cost pressures for Europe’s manufacturers and airlines.

The economic backdrop has also surprised investors.

Eurostat’s preliminary estimate showed the eurozone economy expanded 0.4% quarter-on-quarter in the second quarter, double economists’ expectations, following flat growth in the first quarter. Annual growth accelerated to 1.0%.

Pantheon Macroeconomics’ chief eurozone economist Claus Vistesen said the euro area “comfortably beat expectations yesterday, posting GDP growth of 0.4% quarter-to-quarter in Q2, after upwardly revised zero growth in Q1. This was 0.2pp above the consensus and 0.1pp above our forecast.”

Corporate earnings have added another pillar of support.

Second-quarter reporting has generally exceeded expectations, while global enthusiasm for artificial intelligence infrastructure has transformed a small group of European technology suppliers into some of the world’s best-performing stocks.

The 10 best-performing STOXX Europe 600 stocks in 2026

These are the 10 best-performing European stocks with a market capitalisation of €1 billion or more, ranked by share price performance through 5 August.

10. ArcelorMittal (+65.3%)

Europe’s steel champion has quietly become one of this year’s biggest industrial winners.

Shares of ArcelorMittal have gained 65.3% since the start of 2026, making the company the tenth-best performer in the STOXX Europe 600 through 5 August.

The Luxembourg-based group reported revenue of $16.5 billion in the second quarter and underlying operating profit of $2.1 billion, its strongest performance in Europe for three years.

Profitability improved as new EU import quotas reduced competition from cheaper foreign steel, while the company continued buying back its own shares, returning more cash to investors.

9. Raiffeisen Bank International (+67.6%)

Higher interest rates and resilient economic activity across Central and Eastern Europe have helped the Austrian lender outperform most of its European peers. Raiffeisen Bank International shares have climbed 67.6% year-to-date through 5 August.

First-half profit excluding Russia rose 25% to €708 million, prompting management to raise its full-year forecast for net interest income to €4.4–4.5 billion.

Investors have also welcomed stronger capital levels and easing concerns over the bank’s Eastern European operations.

8. Saipem (+75.8%)

The Italian engineering group has benefited from the global revival in offshore energy investment.

Saipem stock is up 75.8% in 2026 through 5 August, extending one of the strongest rallies among European industrial companies.

First-half revenue increased to €7.35 billion, while underlying operating profit rose 9.4% to €836 million. Its order book expanded to a record €29.9 billion, giving the company years of work already secured despite trimming guidance to reflect around €70 million of conflict-related costs.

7. STMicroelectronics (+105.7%)

The Franco-Italian chipmaker has emerged as one of Europe’s biggest beneficiaries of renewed enthusiasm for artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Shares of STMicroelectronics have more than doubled in 2026, rising 105.7%.

Second-quarter revenue climbed 26% to $3.49 billion, while the company returned to an operating profit after several difficult quarters. Management forecast around $3.7 billion in revenue for the current quarter, signalling that the semiconductor downturn is gradually easing.

6. AIXTRON (+121.0%)

The German company manufactures highly specialised equipment used to produce advanced semiconductors.

AIXTRON shares have surged 121% since the beginning of the year, placing the company among Europe’s biggest AI winners.

Second-quarter orders jumped 81% to €214.5 million, driven by booming demand for photonics and power-chip manufacturing equipment. Management reaffirmed its full-year revenue forecast of €560 million.

5. Technoprobe (+135.1%)

Few investors know Technoprobe, yet almost every advanced semiconductor relies on its testing technology before reaching customers.

Technoprobe has rallied 135.1% in 2026 through 5 August, making it one of Europe’s strongest-performing technology stocks.

Following a record first quarter with €187 million in revenue, management raised its full-year sales forecast to between €950 million and €1.05 billion, reflecting growing demand for AI-related chip testing equipment.

4. ams-OSRAM (+136.2%)

The Austrian sensor and photonics specialist has staged one of the European market’s biggest turnarounds.

ams-OSRAM stock has gained 136.2% since January.

Second-quarter revenue reached €805 million, at the top end of company guidance, while management continued making progress towards commercial production of its microLED technology for augmented-reality glasses.

Investors also welcomed the sale of its non-core sensor division to Infineon, strengthening the company’s balance sheet.

3. Tullow Oil (+136.4%)

The oil producer is the only energy company among Europe’s top-performing stocks this year.

Shares of Tullow Oil have advanced 136.4% year-to-date through 5 August.

Management recently increased its forecast for 2026 free cash flow to between $170 million and $250 million, more than doubling its previous guidance after benefiting from stronger oil prices during the first half of the year.

Ironically, the stock fell on Wednesday as hopes of easing tensions in the Middle East pushed crude prices lower.

2. AT&S (+343.5%)

Austria’s AT&S manufactures the advanced substrates that connect artificial intelligence processors with memory chips inside high-performance servers.

AT&S shares have soared 343.5% in 2026, making the company Europe’s second-best-performing stock.

When reporting quarterly results on 4 August, management forecast 30%–35% revenue growth this year, driven by continued investment in AI data centres.

Despite the spectacular rally, the shares remain about 40% below the record highs reached in June.

1. Soitec (+414.5%)

No European company has benefited more from the artificial intelligence investment boom than France’s Soitec.

Soitec shares have skyrocketed 414.5% since the start of 2026 through 5 August, making the company the best-performing constituent of the STOXX Europe 600.

The semiconductor materials specialist reported annual revenue of €592 million, down 34% as the industry worked through excess inventories. However, investors focused on signs that the recovery had begun.

Revenue from its fast-growing photonics business exceeded $100 million for the first time, while free cash flow reached €63 million, far ahead of analysts’ expectations.

Management expects revenue to return to growth during the current financial year, reinforcing confidence that Soitec is becoming one of Europe’s biggest beneficiaries of the global AI infrastructure build-out.

Jeremy Clarkson has also confirmed major news regarding another one of his shows today.

A Jeremy Clarkson show’s replacement has already been announced and it’s something viewers have been waiting weeks for.

From Top Gear and The Grand Tour to the unforgettable Clarkson’s Farm on Prime Video, Jeremy Clarkson is never too far away from our small screens.

And this evening, Wednesday, August 5, at 9pm, will be no different as he returns in a repeat episode of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? on ITV where he plays quizmaster.

As always, the 66-year-old will be faced with a new line-up of contestants tasked with answering a series of questions that could ultimately change their lives.

However, this will be the last episode of the quiz show reboot to air for a while with ITV confirming what will take its place next week.

Jeremy Clarkson’s Who Wants to be a Millionaire’s time slot will be taken over by ITV’s live coverage of pre-season football.

Kicking off at 7pm and airing for almost three hours, the special is set to air the match between Manchester United and Leeds United, with the friendly taking place at Croke Park, Dublin.

The official synopsis notes: “Normally used for Gaelic sports, this is the first time this 80,000 capacity venue has hosted a club association football match, and while a friendly in name, it is likely to be a highly competitive contest given the historic rivalry between the teams.”

As presenter Hugh Woozencroft leads the coverage, there will also be analysis from John O’Shea and Michael Brown with commentary by Sam Matterface and Lucy Ward.

Clarkson has been in the news for months thanks to the return of Clarkson’s Farm on Prime Video with season five revealing that he had prostate cancer. Thankfully, it has since been confirmed that he is now officially in remission.

But today, Wednesday, August 5, Clarkson is back in the news as it’s been announced he and his former Grand Tour hosts James May and Richard Hammond, would be reuniting.

The Grand Tour came to an end two years ago but the stars will be making cameo appearances in the reboot to help “pass the baton on”.

Hosting duties are being taken over by YouTubers Thomas Holland and James Engelsma with The Grand Tour season seven airing on Friday, September 4.

Live Pre-season Football airs on Wednesday, August 12, from 7pm, on ITV.

BALTIMORE — Pete Alonso hit a two-run single, Tyler O’Neill had his third pinch-hit homer of the season, and the trade-depleted Baltimore Orioles beat the Angels 3-1 on Tuesday night.

Cade Povich pitched six scoreless innings in his first start in nearly three months for the Orioles, who traded Adley Rutschman, Taylor Ward, Tyler Wells and Dean Kremer at the deadline but remain in contention for a wild-card playoff berth.

Christian Franklin made his major league debut, starting in Ward’s former spot in left field, and scored on Alonso’s third-inning single against former Oriole Grayson Rodriguez (3-4).

O’Neill pinch-hit for leadoff batter Dylan Beavers in the eighth inning against Mitch Farris and connected for his eighth homer of the season. That restored Baltimore’s two-run lead after the Angels got within 2-1 in the top half on Vaughn Grissom’s RBI double against Andrew Kittredge.

Yennier Cano worked the ninth for his second save. Baltimore (55-58) moved within 1 1/2 games of Cleveland for the final AL wild-card spot but is one of several teams sitting a few games under .500.

Sidelined since early May with left elbow inflammation, Povich gave up seven hits, struck out seven and walked one while throwing 88 pitches, 60 for strikes. The Orioles’ trade of Kremer to the Twins opened up a spot in their starting rotation.

The Angels had 11 hits but went one for 12 with runners in scoring position.

Rodriguez pitched a season-high seven innings, giving up two runs and three hits to lower his ERA to 7.24. The Orioles traded him to the Angels in the offseason for Ward, who was shipped to Seattle at the deadline.

Iran says talks with Oman are proceeding ‘positively’ as US officials say a deal could be possible soon.

After just six days in theaters, Sony Pictures’ “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” has now raked in more than $1 billion in global box office revenue.

The movie is the second-fastest film ever to reach the 10-figure milestone, bested only by Walt Disney Co. and Marvel Studios’ 2019 hit “Avengers: Endgame.”

“Brand New Day” has now earned $407 million in the U.S. and Canada, with an additional $645.8 million in international box office receipts for a global total of $1.05 billion, according to studio estimates. Its $360 million domestic opening last weekend now ranks as the highest ever.

The movie was produced by Sony-owned Columbia Pictures, as well as Marvel Studios and Pascal Pictures. The film’s production budget was about $225 million.

The filmmakers, as well as box office analysts, have credited the movie’s emotional storyline and focus on the web slinger’s internal conflict for connecting with audiences and giving a fresh take on a familiar franchise and genre. It also doesn’t hurt that its stars, Tom Holland and Zendaya, are two of the most popular actors in the business, both of whom are also fresh off appearances in Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey.”

Together, “Brand New Day” and Universal Pictures’ “The Odyssey” powered last weekend’s three-day domestic box office total to a new best with $436.5 million, according to data from Rentrak. The summer so far stands at $3.6 billion, up 16.7% compared to last year’s middling season and running just 0.7% behind the pre-pandemic summer of 2019, according to Rentrak.

The so far has given analysts hope that the domestic box office could finally reach $10 billion by the end of the year for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Travel plans for around 1.6 million UK tourists heading to Italy were disrupted Rome, Milan, Venice and Naples hit by red alert. Greece helicopters fight fire despite midair crash which one Brit crew member miraculously survived.

Extreme weather brought chaos across Europe today, with warnings of 40C (104F) temperatures in some of the worst-hit countries.

Travel plans for about 1.6 million UK tourists heading to Italy were disrupted as nearly every city was placed on ‘red alert’ for extreme heat. Cities from north to south – including the capital Rome, Milan, Venice and Naples – were warning residents and tourists about the health risks. Temperatures have hit the mid-30sC in many places.

Authorities warned the ‘healthy and active’ were also at risk; not just groups including the elderly, very young children and people with chronic illnesses. Meanwhile, five water-dropping planes and five helicopters took off at dawn today to help firefighters near Athens – after a midair collision in which a Brit helicopter crew member miraculously survived.

The collision between the two fire-fighting choppers showed the extreme danger on the frontline of Europe’s wildfire emergency. Flames bore deeper into the region of the Greek capital, forcing fresh evacuations in the early hours. A Greek national and a Dane died when their helicopter collided with another near the seaside area of Psatha.

The British national and another local man were taken to a hospital, where their injuries were reported as minor. Foreign firefighting and helicopter crews are often deployed in Greece to help tackle wildfires during the country’s hot, dry summers.

More than 1,000 people have been evacuated from the region, including more than 250 rescued by boat from beaches in Greece. Evacuation orders were issued for three more areas, while crews worked to create firebreaks in a forest to help halt the blaze’s advance

In France, firefighters guarded a still-burning scar four times the size of Paris. The blaze raged through pine forests and scrubland over the weekend, whipped by gale force winds that often prevented water-dropping planes from operating.

Hungary is facing power cuts after the drought sweeping across much of Europe forced its only nuclear power plant to shut down. Peter Magyar, the prime minister, said the country was preparing for a “critical” week after the level of the Danube River, which cools the plant, fell to a record low.

The government was considering applying mandatory electricity restrictions for large companies starting today, Mr Magyar said: “We are facing the most critical five days ahead,” he said in a Facebook video.

The Paks power plant will not be generating, while the hottest, 40C days are ahead. The power grid, our public services, and we ourselves will all come under enormous strain.

The Danube has fallen to its lowest level in 30 years in several countries, including Romania. The drought has triggered water-use restrictions in more than 100 cities and villages, including on the outskirts of Budapest.

Mr Magyar called on companies, public institutions, local governments and households to significantly reduce or reschedule electricity use during evening peak hours between 5pm and 10pm.

Italy is in the midst of its fourth extreme heatwave of the summer, with temperatures hitting 40C in many parts of the country. According to official estimates, a total of 17.4 million tourists will be travelling in Italy until August 23, including 8.4 million Italians and nine million visitors from abroad, with about 1.6m expected from the UK.

Dash firefighting aircraft were seen through smoke as they flew over a wildfire in Correns, southeastern France, though the situation in the area was largely under control. Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said wildfires in Greece were ‘deeply worrying’ for UK travellers.

He said: “It’s essential, however, that travellers don’t cancel their trips, especially those not due to travel for the next week or two. Travellers who cancel now will likely forfeit the right to a refund or rebooking, and you’re unlikely to be able to claim on travel insurance, as the FCDO has not warned against travel to the affected regions.

“Where possible, holidaymakers should wait until closer to their departure date to see if their holiday can go ahead or what flexible booking options may be offered by their tour operator or airline. Travel companies will be prioritising anyone due to depart in the next couple of days.”

As we head into August and look to the fall, two burning questions are front and center when it comes to the Dodgers.

Will they win a third straight World Series championship?

And will the $500-million proposal to ferry fans by gondola from Union Station to Dodger Stadium remain aloft or crash and burn?

I can’t answer the first question, although I wouldn’t bet against a three-peat.

As for the second question, if I were former Dodgers owner and aerial tram godfather Frank McCourt, I’d fasten my seat belt, because the gondola is about to hit some heavy turbulence.

The gondola would slice through a section of L.A. State Historic Park, wipe out dozens of trees and trample a space that was carefully designed with years of community input. And the mounting opposition now includes seven former state park officials and four former members of the state Park and Recreation Commission.

The former staffers have sent “don’t you dare” letters to the commission, and one of them argued that the view of the downtown skyline would be cluttered and commercialized.

“Gondola cars encased in digital ads, flying 26 feet overhead every 25-30 seconds would irreparably impair the vista, and the sense of calm and escape from urban life,” wrote former state parks director Ruth Coleman.

The four former commissioners have signed a joint letter arguing that the gondola proposal “would enable a private development to permanently and irreparably shrink, degrade, and destroy the integrity of a state park.”

They’re speaking up now because the state is considering an amendment to the park’s general plan that would allow for “consideration and review of the proposed Los Angeles Aerial Rapid Transit (LA ART) gondola project.”

That was McCourt’s brainchild, back in 2018, and he’s a guy with lobbying muscle and friends in high places. McCourt later handed off the project to an environmental group, but the idea is still to deliver fans to Dodger Stadium, where he has financial interests.

A hearing on the matter is expected in the fall, and it’s sure to be a cage fight. Last December, throngs of supporters and foes squared off at a raucous Metro board meeting. The board ultimately green-lighted the gondola, which the L.A. City Council has almost unanimously opposed. So the showdown scheduled for this fall could be at least as interesting as the World Series.

For the record, I’m not anti-gondola. They’re fun, right?

But I’m not buying the proponents’ claim that this is a public transit project. They say several thousand people would soar up to Chavez Ravine and help relieve the miserable traffic in and out of parking lots, which McCourt took part ownership of after selling the team back in 2012 for a cool $2 billion.

But how much is gained if gondola riders ditch the free shuttle buses that now run to the ballpark from Union Station?

Then there’s a much bigger question, which my colleague Bill Shaikin explored in 2022: Is the gondola phase one of a plan to develop stadium property into some kind of Dodgertown commercial extravaganza?

Unclear, but let’s not be naive.

A Dodgers executive told Shaikin the Dodgers support the gondola project, although they are “really not involved” in it. But we’re talking about fabulously wealthy people whose only real job is figuring out how to make more money.

Team McCourt has suggested the gondola will be built with private money, perhaps from selling advertising rights, and that rides will be free to Dodger ticket holders.

But how would any of that pencil out with Dodger Stadium closed most of the year, and with gondola traffic chipping away at revenue from parking fees that start at a monstrous $40?

There’s something they’re not telling us, and if you think there’s no threat of taxpayers getting dinged one way or another at some point, you’ve either been hit in the head by a line drive or you’ve had too many $18 beers at Dodger Stadium.

If you want more details on the history of the gondola gambit, I suggest you check out all the reporting by Shaikin, who has been on the case for years, and offered up a far better idea than a gondola: Make it easier for fans to walk or bike to the ballpark.

But let’s get back to L.A. State Historic Park.

Much of the early gondola opposition was from Chinatown residents who didn’t like the idea of living under what would resemble an amusement park ride. But on Wednesday evening, I met with some people whose focus is the impact on the park.

“All of these trees would be gone,” said Sean Woods, a former state parks employee who penned one of the letters to Sacramento, and who was involved in some of the 65 public meetings and workshops at which community members helped with the design and mission of the park.

We were in a shady spot, where the gondola would run parallel to the existing Metro train tracks. There’d be supporting towers on park property, with cables dangling overhead, and a gondola station just outside the park. The gondola would occupy only a small slice of the 32-acre space, but it would be a visible distraction from every inch of the park.

“I think it’s a betrayal of California State Parks’ commitment to the communities that surround this park, that fought dearly for this park,” Woods said.

He was reflecting on a time when the former railyard was destined to become a giant industrial warehouse complex. And this followed the history of Chinatown having been relocated to make way for Union Station, and residents of Chavez Ravine being relocated to make way for Dodger Stadium.

Jon Christensen, Sean Woods and Susan Lai chat at Los Angeles State Historic Park.

(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)

Joining us was Susan Lai, who along with Woods represents Friends of Los Angeles State Historic Park.

Lai is small in stature, but she swings for the fences.

“This is called a historic park for a reason,” she said, “and McCourt … has no historical connection to the park, no community connection to the park, and no cultural connection to the park.”

Lai is steeped in the archaeology of the park, the Gabrielino establishment here, the Zanja Madre irrigation line that served the early pueblo.

As we strolled, she told me this is another case of politically connected profiteers trying to impose their will on the local community, and she won’t stand for it. Lai is carrying a torch lit by her husband, Collin, who died last year at the age of 96 after years of fighting to make the park a reality.

“She’s brought an extra fire to this whole effort, and really inspired a lot of young people,” said Jon Christensen, gondola foe and co-founder of the Los Angeles Parks Alliance.

Christensen led Lai, Woods and me to the top of a grassy hill. When the park opened in 2006, I thought it seemed too flat and shapeless, too hemmed in by Broadway and Spring. But it later expanded, the trees filled in and the whole park grew on me as a place to see and feel Los Angeles.

I loved two things most of all.

The unstructured activities enjoyed by a broad mix of people picnicking on the grass, napping under a tree, kicking a ball around or doing what 10 guys were doing Wednesday evening — playing a game of Frisbee football in the meadow below us.

And the unfettered skyline view, which could soon be lost. And consider the optics: Dodgers fans soaring over a public park enjoyed by families who might need to hit the lottery to afford tickets to a game.

It was almost Dodger game time, and if the gondolas were up and running, they’d be close enough overhead that you could hit one with a tomato.

Not that I’m recommending that.

steve.lopez@latimes.com

Brice Turang and Jake Bauers powered a five-run fifth inning with home runs, Shane Drohan struck out seven in six innings, and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Angels 6-2 on Friday night.

Drohan (6-4) gave up two runs on four hits and walked one while delivering his fifth straight start of six innings or more for the NL Central-leading Brewers, who have won nine of 13 games.

Milwaukee reliever Grant Anderson threw a one-two-three seventh and got the first out of the eighth, Abner Uribe retired two batters in the eighth, and closer Trevor Megill retired the side in order with a strikeout in the ninth.

Starter Ryan Johnson (2-6) gave up five runs and six hits in 4⅓ innings for the Angels (42-68), who have lost four straight, seven of eight and 19 of 24.

Milwaukee (68-41) took a 1-0 lead in the second when Bauers and Garrett Mitchell singled and No. 9 batter Cooper Pratt dunked a two-out RBI single to shallow left.

Pratt led off the fifth with a walk and Turang, the leadoff man who leads major league second basemen in OPS (.834), doubles (25), RBIs (68), runs (71) and walks (61), drove an inside cutter from Johnson 398 feet over the wall in left-center for his 16th homer and a 3-0 lead.

Jackson Chourio singled, William Contreras walked with one out, and Johnson was pulled in favor of Angels right-hander Jose Fermin. Bauers then crushed a three-run homer to right, the ball leaving his bat at 110 mph and traveling 424 feet, for a 6-0 lead.

The Halos trimmed the deficit to 6-2 in the bottom of the fifth when Vaughn Grissom singled and Denzer Guzman drove an opposite-field, two-run homer to right-center, his fifth of the season.

Up next: Brewers LHP Robert Gasser (3-4, 4.71 ERA) will oppose Angels RHP Jose Soriano (9-6, 3.29 ERA) on Saturday night.

Hi, and welcome to another edition of Dodgers Dugout. My name is Houston Mitchell. Will the person in charge please stop turning up Earth’s thermostat. It’s warm enough now.

There’s a problem in the Dodgers’ offense. Yes, they are near the top in most offensive categories, but, well, let’s see if you can spot it.

Batting average/OB%/SLG% by lineup position

Batting first: .275/.378/.522
Second: .229/.305/.348
Third: .273/.364/.457
Fourth: .262/.340/.445
Fifth: .247/.333/.406
Sixth: .273/.339/.464
Seventh: .264/.344/.447
Eighth: .269/.341/.410
Ninth: .265/.326/.402

One of those lines is not like the other. The No. 2 spot in the lineup has been horrible. And it’s not just one person, it’s anyone they try there. A look at each player who has batted in the No. 2 spot this season:

Santiago Espinal, 1 for 1
Tommy Edman, 2 for 4
Andy Pages, .254/.336/.431, 238 plate appearances
Kyle Tucker, .238/.330/.333, 97
Freddie Freeman, .213/.276/.263, 87
Alex Call, 1 for 5
Miguel Rojas, 1 for 6
Mookie Betts, .149/.196/.234, 51
Dalton Rushing, 0 for 1
Will Smith, 0 for 8

Wow. Everyone who has spent any time in the No. 2 spot is hitting worse than their overall numbers.

Last season, the No. 2 position hit .259/.324/.418, which was mainly Betts.

Let’s break out the four players who have the most appearances in the No. 2 spot this season and see how well they hit in other positions:

Andy Pages
Batting second: .254/.336/.431, 238 plate appearances
Third: .167/.200/.167, 25
Fourth: .200/.292/.350, 24
Fifth: .222/.300/.500, 40
Sixth: .375/.394/.781, 33
Seventh: .271/.329/.414, 79
Eighth: .476/.500/.810, 22

Kyle Tucker
Batting second: .238/.330/.333, 97
First: .222/300/.556. 10
Third: .000/.111/.000, 9
Fourth: .263/.391/.395, 92
Fifth: .226/.329/.387, 73
Sixth: .225/.297/.326, 101
Seventh: .333/.412/.633, 34
Ninth: 0 for 1

So hit Pages sixth and Tucker seventh?

Freddie Freeman

Batting second: .213/.276/.263, 87
Third: .328/.421/.572, 273
Fourth: .288/.342/.452, 79
Fifth: .417/.417/.583, 12

So Freeman should bat third.

Mookie Betts

Batting second: .149/.196/.234, 51
First: .125/.125/.500, 8
Third: .179/.281/.429, 32
Fourth: .261/.326/.436, 181
Fifth: .250/.276/.464, 29

Betts at cleanup? Should the Dodgers lineup be:

Shohei Ohtani
Tommy Edman
Freddie Freeman
Mookie Betts
Max Muncy
Andy Pages
Kyle Tucker
Teoscar Hernández
Dalton Rushing

Of course, here we are talking about making changes to the team that is fourth in the majors in runs scored per game (5.15).

But why does everyone fall apart in the No. 2 spot? Do the pitchers relax a bit after facing Ohtani and pitch better because of it? Do they concentrate more? Is it just the randomness of baseball? We’ll never know. But right now, the No. 2 spot is a weakness.

Editor’s note: Of course, right after I write this, Pages goes five for eight with a double and a homer in the No. 2 spot. The randomness of baseball!

Where doesn’t it hurt?

We knew that Shohei Ohtani‘s left knee was still bothering him, but it turns out his right biceps is bothering him, too.

“My biceps is not 100%,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton while speaking to reporters. “Just [a] similar issue with the knee. Do we consider pushing this? It is still July. So, I think the conversation would be a little different if we’re in August or September.”

And the longer Ohtani sits, the more likely he will have to be built back up as a starter. Don’t expect him to come back and pitch seven innings right away.

“You know, he’s a starting pitcher, and then, when you start missing three, four, five weeks of that build-up,” Dave Roberts said, “then you’ve got to kind of start up again.”

Phil ‘The Vulture’ Regan dies

Phil Regan, who had one great and one good season as a relief pitcher with the Dodgers, died earlier this month at 89.

In 1966 with the Dodgers, Regan pitched in 65 games and went 14-1, with a 1.62 ERA and a league-leading 21 saves. It was that season where he earned his nickname, “The Vulture.”

On Aug. 1, 1966, Sandy Koufax was facing the Pittsburgh Pirates and left after seven innings with the score tied, 1-1. Regan relieved him, and the Dodgers scored four runs to win the game. Afterward, Koufax said to Regan, “You’re getting to be a real scavenger. A vulture, that’s what you are.”

Regan went 6-9 with a 2.99 ERA and six saves with the Dodgers in 1967. He pitched in five games for them in 1968, going 2-0 with 3.52 ERA, before he was traded to the Chicago Cubs along with Jim Hickman for Jim Ellis and Ted Savage.

Regan last pitched in the majors in 1972 with the Chicago White Sox, who released him in July. His career record was 96-81 with a 3.84 ERA and 92 saves.

He went on to become a longtime pitching coach for several teams and managed the Baltimore Orioles during the 1995 season.

He came out of retirement at 82 in 2019 to become interim pitching coach for the New York Mets, saying, “Well, I love the game and I love what I’m doing. I know I’m 82 years old now, but I still enjoy it. I feel good. I’m going to retire one of these days, or die, I dont know. One or the other.”

Scheduling note

The next newsletter will be delayed until after the trade deadline so we can discuss what happened, or what didn’t happen, and see what moves other postseason contenders made.

Up next

Friday: Boston (*Ranger Suarez, 4-3, 3.02 ERA) at Dodgers (TBD), 7:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020

Saturday: Boston (*Payton Tolle, 6-6, 3.32 ERA) at Dodgers (Yoshinobu Yamamoto, 11-6, 2.72 ERA), 6:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020

Sunday: Boston (*Jake Bennett, 6-4, 2.74 ERA) at Dodgers (Emmet Sheehan, 4-7, 4.95 ERA), 4:20 p.m., NBC, Peacock, AM 570, KTNQ 1020

All times Pacific

*-left-handed

In case you missed it

Dodgers’ Andrew Friedman addresses Shohei Ohtani’s knee injury and trade deadline approach

Dodgers Debate: Trade deadline madness

‘Do we consider pushing this?’ Shohei Ohtani’s return to the mound remains unclear

Shaikin: The Dodgers’ three-peat chance may never come again. Trade accordingly

Dusty Baker’s peers expect him to become the first Black manager in the Hall of Fame

And finally

Vin Scully calls Game 1 of the 1988 World Series. Watch and listen here.

Until next time …

Have a comment or something you’d like to see in a future Dodgers newsletter? Email me at houston.mitchell@latimes.com. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.

THOUSANDS of locals and British holidaymakers have been evacuated from Crete after deadly wildfires swept through the popular Greek hotspot.

At least three emergency responders have lost their lives during the crisis across Greece, including two firefighters who became trapped in their vehicle near the mountain village of Krya Vrysi in Crete.

Flames fanned by gale-force winds have spread across a 15-kilometre front on the island at the peak of the summer holiday season.

Around 8,000 people were ordered to move to safety as flames closed in on southern resort villages, destroying homes, farms, and livestock in their path.

The crisis comes as severe heatwaves spark wildfires across Southern Europe and parts of the UK, with firefighters battling blazes from Spain and Turkey to Suffolk.

Where are the wildfires in Crete?

The primary fire zone in Crete is located along the island’s southern coast in the Rethymno region, specifically within the Agios Vasileios municipality.

HOL YES

Cheapest summer for holidays in YEARS – with August breaks still on sale for £188pp

EUROPE ON FIRE

Three ‘heroic’ firefighters dead as Greece hit by wildfire hell

Villages and coastal areas hit by emergency evacuation alerts include:

• Krya Vrysi, Melambes, and Sachtouria
• Agios Pavlos, Triopetra, and Agia Paraskevi
• Orne and Ligres

More than 200 firefighters, supported by 53 fire engines, have been tackling the south-coast blazes.

Nearby resort areas such as Agia Galini were evacuated as a precaution before conditions stabilised enough for some tourists to return.

Is it safe to travel to Crete?

It remains safe to travel to the vast majority of Crete.

The island’s main transport hubs – including Heraklion Airport and Chania Airport – remain open and operating normally, outside the fire zone.

Popular northern holiday destinations, including Rethymno’s historic Old Town, Chania, Heraklion, Elounda, and Agios Nikolaos, currently remain unaffected and open for business.

If you are due to travel, tour operators advise checking the exact location of your accommodation.

Anyone staying near the active southern fire zone should contact their hotel or package provider before travelling, follow official 112 emergency text alerts, and ensure travel insurance covers natural disaster disruptions.

Holidaymakers on the island are urged to download emergency alert apps, keep mobile devices charged, and strictly observe local fire bans.

How did the fires start?

Specialist arson investigation teams from the Greek Fire Service have launched formal inquiries into the exact ignition points of the Rethymno fires.

While investigations are ongoing, extreme heat and weather conditions created the perfect storm for rapid ignition.

A prolonged summer heatwave pushed temperatures above 40C, thoroughly drying out low vegetation, pine forests, and olive groves across the island.

Strong gusting winds reaching up to 102 km/h (7 on the Beaufort scale) whipped minor ignitions into runaway blazes within minutes.

Authorities across southern Europe have repeatedly warned that even minor human carelessness – like discarded glass, outdoor barbecues, or unextinguished cigarettes – can instantly trigger a major blaze in these dry conditions.

What is the forecast for Crete?

The weather outlook for Crete remains challenging, with forecasters predicting high temperatures to persist near or above 40C across the Aegean region.

But the primary hurdle for emergency crews has been unpredictable wind.

Violent, changing gusts have forced water-dropping planes and heavy helicopters to temporarily ground operations due to turbulence.

Fire crews are reliant on wind speeds dropping in the coming days.

Lower winds wills allow aerial firefighting squadrons to safely scoop seawater and drop targeted payloads on hot spots in Crete’s steep mountain terrain.

While ground teams continue to build containment lines, civil protection authorities maintain a high wildfire alert across Crete and wider Greece.

WILDFIRES are continuing to sweep across Europe and Turkey is one of the latest countries to battle the blazes.

Here’s everything you need to know right now about travelling to Turkey.

Where are the wildfires in Turkey?

Fires have broken out in various parts of Turkey.

One location which is popular for holidays is Antalya, and within the province there are multiple wildfires.

Currently, these are further inland than the coastal resorts popular with tourists.

The Fethiye–Antalya highway was temporarily closed due to smoke but later reopened under controlled conditions.

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Another serious and active fire is in Seydikemer, 20-minutes away from the city of Fethiye, where 600 people have been evacuated from their homes.

It’s in the hills between Fethiye and Marmaris – the fire started on Wednesday morning and spread into woodland.

On the northwestern Aegean coast, three neighborhoods in the Ayvalık district – Hacıveliler, Tıfıllar, and Bağyüzü – have been evacuated.

This is as a precaution due to a wildfire spreading across Turkey’s western Balıkesir province.

Agriculture Minister Ibrahim Yumakli said on X: “We are continuing to fight the wildfires day and night.

He said emergency responders had tackled 169 fires across the country since Wednesday, and 163 of those have “been completely brought under control.”

Is it safe to travel to Turkey right now?

Most of Turkey is still considered safe to travel to, excluding the areas of the Syrian-Turkey border.

But officials do heed warning about the natural disaster as there is a “high risk of wildfires during the summer season from April to October”.

It reads: “Wildfires happen frequently in Turkey during summer.

“You could get a fine or prison sentence for lighting a fire of any kind or discarding cigarettes in risk areas such as woodland. Look out for signs that tell you fires, barbeques, and smoking are prohibited.

“If there is a wildfire in your area, local authorities may tell you to leave your accommodation. Follow the directions of local authorities.

“If you see a wildfire, call emergency services on 112.”

GOV.UK adds that “extreme temperatures can affect many areas of Turkey over the summer months.”

Are flights still going to Turkey?

Flights to Turkey remain unaffected.

If you are due to fly in and have concerns, it may be worth contacting your airline to check if they are operating normally.

What if I have a holiday to Turkey booked?

As the Foreign Office has not warned against travel to Greece, there are no special circumstances in place for holidaymakers to cancel their trip and receive a full refund.

Depending on what travel insurance you have, your policy might include natural disaster cover.

If so, your insurance policy should cover you for when you are unable to reach your holiday destination due to natural disasters, like wildfires.

So it is worth checking your travel insurance policy.

Can I cancel my trip?

If you do choose to cancel your trip, it is best to contact your airline or holiday provider.

There is no obligation for companies to refund bookings unless government advice changes.

Israeli forces struck near Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon. The military said it used 700 tonnes of explosives to destroy parts of a Hezbollah tunnel network. Israel agreed in June to a phased withdrawal from Lebanon, and have the Lebanese military handle disarming Hezbollah.

Cam Smith gave Houston the lead with a two-run double in the sixth inning, Yainer Diaz and Jeremy Peña hit solo homers and the Astros beat the Angels 7-4 on Wednesday night for a three-game sweep.

Houston right-hander Hayden Wesneski, making his first start in almost 15 months after undergoing Tommy John surgery in May 2025, gave up three runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings, striking out four and walking two, to earn the win. Bryan Abreu got the final four outs for his seventh save.

Wesneski (1-0) survived a three-run, four-hit first to blank the Angels on three hits over the next 4 2/3 innings to help the Astros win for the eighth time in nine games and reach .500 (55-55) for the first time since April 7, when they were 6-6. Houston also pulled within a game of first-place Texas in the American League West.

Right-hander Grayson Rodriguez gave up two runs and five hits in five innings, striking out six and walking two, for the Angels, who lost for the 18th time in 23 games.

Vaughn Grissom’s two-run double and Jo Adell’s RBI single gave the Angels a 3-0 lead in the first. Homers by Diaz in the second and Peña in the third trimmed the deficit to 3-2.

Rodriguez retired the side in order in the fourth and fifth innings, but with his pitch count at 98, he was replaced by left-hander Mitch Farris (0-3) to start the sixth.

Tyler Trammell walked with one out, Diaz singled and Smith lined a two-run double into the left-field corner for a 4-3 Houston lead. Smith took third on a wild pitch and scored on another wild pitch for a 5-3 lead.

Houston pushed the lead to 6-3 in the seventh when Altuve singled and scored from first on Diaz’s bloop single to shallow right field. Adell hit a sacrifice fly in the eighth for the Angels, and Houston scored on an error in the ninth.

KATIE Price has suffered more financial woe – she’s closed down her horse-riding clobber brand and dissolved the firm, we can reveal.

Her KP Equestrian Ltd firm sold items including riding leggings, body warmers and a range of T-shirts and other tops for women, men and kids.

The outfit company was removed from the register at Companies House this week.

Katie had previously been spotted flogging the £34 hoodies on stalls set up at horse riding events.

But she’s now stopped selling the gear and shut the firm’s website – which until recently had ex-lover Carl Woods modelling clothes.

The brand’s Instagram page hasn’t been updated for two years and a link to the company website is now dead.

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She launched the venture – designed to “dazzle in the saddle” – after it was revealed she owed more than £3 million.

Latest books for KP Equestrian Ltd filed to Companies House show the outfit company had just £1,000 in its bank balance and was worth a total of £15,000.

In 2022, it was worth £26,269.

This comes as Katie’s husband, Lee Andrews faces mounting prison fines and financial demands exceeding £100,000 to £120,000 from his detentions in Dubai’s Al-Awir prison.

Katie made it clear in an interview with us that she would not cover the cost.

She stated to us in a chat with our very own Clemmie Moodie: “There’s nothing I can do. I’m not here to pay anything for anyone.

“I’ve got my own life. Even though he’s part of my life.”

Back to her clothing brand, Katie told would-be buyers on her website: “Horses have always been a big part of my life since I was a little girl. 

“I used to spend hours at the yard when I was a teenager grooming, mucking out, learning to ride, trimming, practising my plaiting, hanging out with friends, grooming again and just being around the horses.

“As my life got busier and more hectic, I always made time for the horses, as it’s the only place where I could fully switch off and just enjoy my hobby.

“Horses are my happy place and where I can take time out and calm my soul.  I love their company, feel, presence and even their smell. 

“There’s nothing quite like the feeling when you turn up to the yard.

“With horses having been such a large part of my life for so long I’ve focused on getting my KP Equestrian range ready for you all, as it means so much to me. 

“So you too can Dazzle in the Saddle and we can all share in our riding experiences.

“Our clothing has been developed with the comfort & style of riders in mind. 

“Kids, menswear & horsewear to follow soon.

“It’s a process I have really loved. Designing the products that I have always wanted with my own sparkle added.”

But the enterprise has failed to dazzle customers.